2015 Zind Humbrecht Gewurz Clos Windsbuhl

The Clos Windsbuhl is located in the commune of Hunawihr, approximately 15km from Colmar, overlooking the fortified church of Sainte Hune. The Clos Windsbuhl faces south to south-east. With its average to steep slope (between 15 – 40%), the small Windsbuhl hill is at a high altitude for Alsace, at around 350 m above sea level. The vines grow in a shelly limestone substratum (muschelkalk) rich in clay and chalky rock. The soil is very thin in certain areas and the country rock often outcrops in the middle of the slope. It is well worth noting that the Windsbuhl lies on a soil structure quite different from the rest of the commune. The degradation of limestone by microbial activity results in the presence of clay in the soil which contributes to interesting expressions of minerality in the wines from this cru. The proximity to the Vosges Mountains protects the Windsbuhl from northern winds. Its situation and higher altitude makes the Clos Windsbuhl a late ripening terroir. Budburst and flowering are on average 15 to 20 days later than the earlier ripening terroirs of Alsace and the Clos Windsbuhl is usually one of the last terroirs to be harvest at the Domaine. The Clos Windsbuhl is well adapted to warmer vintages. The higher than average rainfall (650mm/year) associated with a soil which allows a deep descent of the root systems enables the vines to resist drought stress. (OH)